Plural Verses Possessive

Plural Possessive Nouns

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Is there possession or just more than one of something?

• Determine if there is ownership/possession. Look for nouns or modifiers and then nouns.

• Ask yourself what the plural form of the word would be.

• If there is possession, follow the next set of rules...

Plural Possession: Plural Words that End in -s

• Examples: babies, cats, staplers, books, shirts

• In order to turn plural nouns that end in -s into plural possessive nouns, add the apostrophe ' after the -s. Ex: cats'

• Example 1: Some of the books' pages were torn from years of students reading the books. *Look for clue words (books) that help signal it's talking about more than one book.

• Example 2: The babies' strollers were all lined up in an orderly fashion at the park.

Multiple Choice

Determine the proper form of the word to make each sentence contextually correct. Watch the word clues to know when the word should be in plural or possessive form.

________ Chromebooks need to be charged every night.

• Kids

• Kids's

• Kids'

Multiple Choice

Determine the proper form of the word to make each sentence contextually correct. Watch the word clues to know when the word should be in plural or possessive form.

Several of the ______ lunches were prepared as to-go orders rather than dine-in orders.

• ladys'

• ladies

• ladies'

• ladies's

Plural Possession: Plural Words that do not end in -s

• Examples: men, women, geese, children, mice

• In order to turn plural nouns that do not end in -s into plural possessive nouns, add 's to the end of the word. ex: men...men's

• The geese's feathers covered the ground when they went flying off from the car's horn scaring all of the geese. *Remember that geese is the plural form of goose. It does not end in-s.

• Example 2: The men's cars were cleaned and ready for the car show to start.

Multiple Choice

Determine the proper form of the word to make each sentence contextually correct. Watch the word clues to know when the word should be in plural or possessive form.

As the dental hygienist examined the _______ surfaces, he noticed the child hadn't been brushing correctly.

• tooth's

• tooths

• teeths'

• teeth's

Multiple Choice

Determine the proper form of the word to make each sentence contextually correct. Watch the word clues to know when the word should be in plural or possessive form.

As the dental hygienist examined the _______ surfaces, he noticed the child hadn't been brushing correctly.

• tooth's

• tooths

• teeths'

• teeth's

More Practice

Multiple Choice

Determine the proper form of the word to make each sentence contextually correct. Watch the word clues to know when the word should be in plural or possessive form.

Duke's __________ lenses were all repaired after he dropped off both pairs of glasses at the store.

• glass's

• glasses'

• glass

Multiple Choice

Determine the proper form of the word to make each sentence contextually correct. Watch the word clues to know when the word should be in plural or possessive form.

I was surprised that the ________ were all crying at the same time.

• babys'

• babies'

• baby's

• babies